“Ifyou combineTheRiddlerwithTheGodfather, then yes,”Kennethsays.Hebrings up a screen that shows various works of art. “Thereare tenTrustpieces in total.Ourbest guess, based on what we know ofAragundi, is that the ten numbers combine to makeGPScoordinates leading the possible successor to a location where they have to find something that allows them to continue.
“Now, his possible successor is going to want all ten.Justto give you an idea as to why— and this estimate could change, based on several factors, like how close to the equator the location is— if they get all ten numbers, it will lead them to an area roughly the size of a baseball diamond.Ifthey get eight, the area they’ll have to search for whateverAragundihas hidden will be closer to the size ofDisneyland.Withsix, it’s more like a small town.Withfour, we’re talking about them having to search an area the size of a large metropolis.They’vealready recovered five.”
Hepicks up the sculpture. “Andwe have one, but we don’t know if they were able to get the number from it before attempting to hand it off yesterday— all we know is that the chip is still in it.They’rereallygoing to want the other four.”
“Andyou’re sure the numbers areGPScoordinates?”Iask.Idon’t know what chatter the analysts have seen, but from whatI’veseen, that’s a big leap.It’stheir job to see so much more thanIever could, though.
Kennethshakes his head. “Itcould be part of an international account number.”
“Sameconcept, though,”Emersonsays. “Ifthey have nine of the ten numbers, they’ve got a one in ten chance of guessing the missing number.Iftwo are missing, it’s a one-in-one-hundred chance.Threemissing?Onein a thousand.”
Kennethspreads his arms, palms up. “Orit could be a social security number of a target.ALibraryofCongressnumber.ACIAasset tag.Anencoded message.Apatent number.Thepoint is, they’re going to want to recover all four of the remaining art pieces, or their chances of winningAragundi’schallenge are small.Especiallybecause there’s something else on each of the computer chips.Wehaven’t been able to make any sense of it yet, but we suspect that when all ten chips are together, it’ll give information that none of them would give separately.”
Sullysays, “Butjust keeping them from getting the art pieces— and therefore, the numbers— isn’t enough.Wewant to be able to send in a team to take down the organization itself and make the world a safer place.Whichmeans installing a tracker and letting them continue to steal the pieces.”
“Thegood thing is,”Emersonsays as he brings a new image up on the screen with four art pieces, “we know where the other four pieces are, and we have a decent guess as to the order the thieves will try to steal them.Firstup is this tapestry inDublin, then this ceramic sculpture inBelgrade.Thenthis stained glass window inVenice, and finishing with this charcoal drawing inAnkara.”
“We’vereached out to the governments where each of the four pieces reside and gotten their cooperation,”Sullysays. “Cooperationfrom individual art owners is a different story.Theones inDublinandAnkaraare fully on board with our plan.Weknow enough about the owner inSerbiato know not to contact him, and thefourth, the one inVenice, we haven’t been able to contact at all yet.Thoselast two will likely require some covert ops.”
Inod, already itching to leave.Itlooks likeIhave a good amount of travel ahead of me, which is no problem.I’venever been toIreland, so that’ll be fun.AndI’ma big fan ofVenice. “Thisbetter be our op,”Isay, partly toSully, but partly to everyone in the room. “Itwas ours first.”
“No,”Ledgersays, “it wasoursfirst.It’souroperation.Youcan’t just come and steal it because you want the credit.Weare taking it.”
“Bothagencies want it,”Sullysays. “Andtrust me whenIsay that ‘calling dibs’ or claiming ownership in this room isn’t taken into consideration.Thiswas a decision already made in a room with theDirectorofNationalIntelligence, my boss,DirectorLancaster, and myself, after looking at it from all angles.Aftermuch discussion, we came to an agreement that it’s an op best served as a joint mission between theCIAand theCSA.Endof story.”
Ilean back in my chair and cross my arms.Fine.Sothey’ll divide up the locations between our agencies.TwoforLedger, two for me.Ofcourse, the twoI’llpick ifIhave the choice immediately come to mind—IrelandandItaly.Butboth directors have turned to face me andLedgerwith looks on their faces like maybe it’s already been decided.
Aftera long, slow breath,DirectorLancastersays, “DirectorSullivanandIdiscussed who we should send on this operation, and we decided that we want the two of you to team up.”
LedgerandIsimultaneously let out a disbelieving “What?” like we can’t believe anyone could ever thinkthat’s a good idea.Imanage to stay seated, though, whereasLedgerimmediately stands, sending his rolling chair backward.I’mhappy to see that he appears just as shocked and horrified asIam.
Ishake my head. “Youmean the two of us going to the same locations?Wecan’t do that.”Ienjoy competingagainstLedger.Icannot workwithLedger.Thatwas what we were doing a year and a half ago when everything went disastrously.
Icannot be with this man twenty-four hours a day for an undetermined amount of time.Everymission in our past, our current rivalry— it all makes me feel connected toLedgerin a wayIrarely feel with anyone.Icrave that connection, even though the glimpse it gives me into whatIcan never have is a physical pain.AndifI’vegot the choice,Iprefer to stay far, far away from pain.
Plus,Iknow myself well.I’vegot strong opinions,Iam a lone wolf, andIdo not work well with others.Mostof all,Ido not work well withLedgerLancaster.
Sullysays, “Thetwo of you are not only the operatives with the greatest knowledge of the ins and outs of this case, since you’ve been the primary two working on it for quite some time now, but you’re also the most qualified for this particular mission.You,Ledger, because of your fearlessness and ability to befriend assets—”
“Youmean his recklessness and unreliability?”Icut in.
“—and you,Zoe, because of your expertise in reading body language and ability to strategize.”
“Oh,”Ledgersays, “you mean her ability to convincingly lie and beinflexible?”
Sullycontinues, as if neitherInorLedgerinterrupted, “Andbecause you both have an innate need to win at any cost.Andeveryonereally needs us to get this win.”
Imeet my director’s eyes, feeling a bit betrayed that he didn’t warn me during our hour-long drive here that he andDirectorLancasterhad made plans to put me andLedgeron a mission together.Allhe told me was that both teams of analysts had been working together all through the night and that we were coming to hear about it.Igave him my best “we’re going to have words later” look.
DirectorLancasterturns to the two analyst team leaders and says, “Canyou give us a minute?”
Emersonplaces his tablet on the table, and he andKennethboth walk out the door, shutting it behind them.Ledgertakes a deep breath, grabs his chair from where it had rolled near the wall, and sits in it again.
ThenDirectorLancastersays, “Ledger, do you agree that you’re perfect for this mission?”
“Youbetter believeIam.But—”
Thenshe turns to me. “Zoe, do you agree that you’re perfect for this mission?”
